Subscribe to this blog

Follow by Email

Search This Blog

Posts

Mirvish Productions has brought the London production of THE HARDER THEY COME to Toronto. Like the classic 1970's Jimmy Cliff gangster film, the musical is based on the life of Ivanhoe "Rhygin" Martin and is written by the late Perry Henzell. You can rent the film and buy the soundtrack, but only the play will make you want to step back into 1970's Jamaica. The play's charismatic cast and on-stage musicians performing classic reggae makes you want jump into the hard, sweet life of Ivan (Roland Bell), his girlfriend, Elsa (Joanna Francis) and friends Pedro (Lain Gray) and Pinky (Susan Lawson-Reynolds). A sure bet not just for reggae fans but for people who like to have a good time. Once you see it you'll want to go back for more. I plan on seeing it again with LOTS of friends.

I love watching comedies, but I never consider going to comedy clubs the same way I think about going to the movies. I watch comedy sketches on television all the time, and when I happen to come across them on television I always tune in. I especially enjoy hearing the comedians featured on the Just For Laughs (JFL) programs. Seeing Toronto comedian Zabrina Chevannes perform last year, and recently seeing Scottish comedian, Danny Bhoy at Toronto JFL made me question why I don't often venture into this realm of the arts.

Maybe I don't consider it part of the arts? Hmm...no. I've had Zabrina on my arts focussed radio show, and, lately, Rob Salerno and Debra Di Giovanni.

Do I consider comedy a "lesser" art form? Hmm...no. I have a high level of appreciation for the skills involved in joke writing.

I'll go see a play in pokiest of places that barely qualify as a "theatre", so why then do I not include comedy in my entertainment routine?

Sunday's headliner, Malian singer, Oumou Sangaré "the songbird of Wassoulou" and her highly talented band and dancers.

CIUT's David Dacks(Abstract Index) meets the man whose music has has played for his audience, Ghanaian sensation, Samini

Many people forget that Afrofest has things a zone in the park for children. Why not bring the kids along next year to the participate in arts & crafts, facepainting and stiltworkshops?

Children's Village Coordinator, Audrey Hudson

Seasoned stiltwalker, Keianna pauses in a walk around the Children's Village to pose with her mother, Denise. Keianna learned to walk on stilts last year. (at right) Christopher Pinheiro focuses on the art of facepainting

The Caribbean diaspora is well represented at the launch of the 4 Annual Caribbean Tales Film Festival: (left to right) International Festival Programmer June Givanni (England), ground-breaking Director, Euzhan Palcy (Martinique) and Cultural Officer, National Cultural Foundation, Annette Nias (Barbados).

The launch of the 4th Annual Caribbean Tales Film Festival got off to a good start tonight. Invited guests were treated to a repast of Caribbean foods with a background of music and conversation in English of all flavours and a smattering of French. Following the reception at New College's Grad Student's pub guests attended a screening of 2 short films and a feature documentary:

1. "Where do White People Go When the Long Weekend Comes? The Wonderous Journey of Delroy Kincaid" by Powys Dewhurst is an 7 minute film that mixes the live action and animation to answer the film's title question silently posed by a Black young boy. I related to this film very well. As a…

Two performances worth seeing at this year's Fringe are Fucking Stephen Harper and interrogation. Vastly different in tone, both plays will take you to unexpected places. Rob Salerno's one-man performance is the gay journalist's tale of the trials and tribulations he experienced while trying to get an interview with our nation's Prime Minister. Why is it called Fucking Stephen Harper? You'll have to see the comic piece to find out, but the play is aptly named. I can tell you that you will get a civics lesson that inspires thought and laughter.

On the other hand, "interrogation" is a tense psychological drama that evokes little laughter, while keeping us involved in the murky world of the real and the imagined. Writer and lead actor, Ben Noble is at his best in this demanding role.

Had a fantastic day today at the Fringe. Spent my day on the U of T campus and saw three plays. Met first-time volunteer Vincent (left) on his first Fringe shift ever at the Robert Gill Theatre after seeing my second play of the day, Donny's Day. Vincent is a high school drama student, who decided to volunteer for the Fringe after attending the festival last year with his dad. (The Fringe has shifts for high school students that counts towards the school board's mandatory Community Involvement hours.) Vincent and I had a great conversation about what he saw last year and what he hopes to see this year at the Fringe. One of the perks of volunteering is that, if circumstances are right, you have a good chance of seeing a show at your venue.

After my show ended, I walked down to the Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse to see the one-woman show, Grandpa Sol and Grandma Rosie, starring Australian actress, Lana Schwarcz. Nurse Jackie (Schwarcz) is confronting her fears about aging by w…

Ken Stowar celebrates his milestone radio anniversary at the Lula Lounge

Family, friends and fans turned up at the Lula Lounge on Thursday, July 2nd to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Ken Stowar's show, Global Rhythms. The radio show, which airs Sundays from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm on CIUT 89.5 FM was one of the few that programmed international music in the late '80s. I don't think the term "world music", however vague that phrase is, was even in existence at the time. The music industry didn't know what to call music from Africa, Cuba, Jamaica, Hungary etc and Toronto record stores (remember vinyl was still in) didn't really carry much of it. We are, after all, taking about 1989 when the Top 40 included hits by Belinda Carlisle, Tiffany, Debbie Gibson and Rick Astley.

Thank you Ken for bringing us Afro-beat, Zydeco, Hungarian throat singing, and numerouis other forms of music from the around the globe. Thanks also for hosting emerging artists on your show. I…

The Cast of "Lockdown" playing at this year's Toronto Fringe Theatre Festival.

Lockdownby Frances-Anne Solomon(www.ledaserene.ca)presented by Leda Serene films from Toronto, ONFrances-Anne Solomon’s new play Lockdown, takes us into the new world of some inner city Canadian high schools. Post "lockdown", how will students behave under a new set of rules and the constant presence of armed police officers in their hallways and classrooms? Schools used to be a safe haven for students, but how will some of them now function when they are exposed to violence in their homes, community and, now, school? We peer into the lives of several young people, moving with them from classroom to living room as answers are revealed. As adults, our own culpability is also in question as we watch this play unfold. Please bring some young people with you to see this play. The young cast is incredibly natural, and legendary Jamaican actress Leonie Forbes is at her usual best. Ticket…